“I’m leaving here with a good taste in my mouth after a very tight game without many chances, one in which the players grew increasingly tired and had to suffer for the win,” he told a Press conference.

“It was important to start well but we performed better in the second half. In the opening 45 minutes we failed to put them under pressure and our general play was too slow.”

Valverde also indicated he believed his team possesses enough firepower up front to make a major challenge this season.

“I’m convinced we have players in attack with sufficient quality to not only create chances but to take them,” he said, before hinting the signing of Mikel Rico from Granada is very close to be made official.

“I don’t know if the club has announced it yet so I can’t say any more as I don’t want to put my foot in it,” declared Valverde.